Comparison

Paper vs Spoken Words

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Paper

This app offers a clean and configurable writing environment for various creative projects. It supports Markdown and plain text, syncs with iCloud, and integrates with other tools. Users can publish drafts to popular blogging platforms and export documents in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • Gorgeous writing space
  • Silky-smooth typing
  • Deep personalization (Pro)
  • Markdown or Plain Text support
  • iCloud sync
  • Publish to Medium, WordPress, Ghost
  • Export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, ePub
Features
Read full description

“This is a super-clean writing space with a lot of configurability that stays out of sight when you don’t need it.” App Store Review 2020 # STORY Read it here → paper.pro/story # HIGHLIGHTS · Gorgeous writing space · Silky-smooth typing · Deep personalization (Pro) · Markdown or Plain Text · Syncs with iCloud · Integrates with TextExpander · Publishes drafts to Medium, WordPress, Ghost, or Micro.blog · Exports to PDF, HTML, RTF, DOCX, ePub, image, or clipboard · Works seamlessly across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac # PRO FEATURES Basic adjustments like text size are free in Paper. More advanced personalization can be purchased with Pro Features. You will not be buying anything blindly, though. The trial period for Pro Features is untimed, so you can take your time to decide if they are a worthy investment. While trialing Pro Features, you might occasionally see a popup. Simply press Reset in the popup to get rid of it completely. Pro Features are either a subscription or a one-time purchase. Both the subscription and the one-time purchase unlock Pro Features on all your iPhones and iPads that share the same Apple ID. This subscription (or one-time purchase) applies only to iPhones and iPads. Macs require a separate subscription (or one-time purchase). The one-time purchase is hidden by default. To enable it, go to the Settings app → Apps → Paper → Purchases → toggle "Show Lifetime Option". If you want to upgrade from a Monthly subscription to a Yearly one (or to a Lifetime license), go to Paper’s page in the App Store and press the rounded button with the price next to the Yearly subscription option (or next to the Lifetime in-app purchase). # BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS Businesses, schools, and organizations can use one of the following methods to purchase the Pro version of the app: · Apple Business Manager · Apple School Manager · Volume Purchasing The Pro version of the app can be accessed from this link → paper.pro/get # MARKDOWN FORMATTING SYNTAX # Heading 1 ## Heading 2 ### Heading 3 #### Heading 4 ##### Heading 5 ###### Heading 6 **Bold** __Bold__ *Italic* _Italic_ ~Underline~ ~~Strikethrough~~ ==Highlight== ::Highlight:: `Inline Code` ``` Code Block ``` [Link Text](http://paper.pro) ![Alt Text](http://image.jpeg) - Bulleted List - Bulleted List - Nested Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Bulleted List * Nested Bulleted List 1. Numbered List 2. Numbered List 3. Numbered List 1. Nested Numbered List - [ ] Task List - [x] Task List > Blockquote >> Nested Blockquote >>> 2x Nested Blockquote Text that needs a footnote[^Footnote description] ++ Inline comment ++ /* Inline comment */ %% Comment block | Col 1 | Col 2 | | ------ | ------ | | Cell 1 | Cell 2 | | Cell 3 | Cell 4 | --- ← Horizontal Rule \_ ← Markdown Escape ° ← HTML Escape # FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ## How do I share my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Share" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar, then tap the round "Share" button in the popup. ## How do I print my document? · On the main screen with documents: Tap and hold the document. Select "Print" from the menu. · In the document editor: Tap the title of the document in the top bar. Select "Print" from the menu. ## Can I draw in the app? No. Paper is purely a plain-text editor. ## Can I add pictures? You can only link to public images on the Web. ## Can I password-protect my notes? No. ## Paper changes the font when I switch between alphabetic and non-alphabetic keyboards. How do I prevent it? · Change the keyboard to a non-alphabetic one (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc.). · Tap the "Settings" button in the top right corner. · Under the "Font" submenu, toggle "Keep for ABC Keyboards". ## Need more help? You can reach me via the in-app chat → "Settings" button in the corner → "Chat with the Maker" # TERMS OF USE paper.pro/terms-of-use

About

Spoken Words

Capture and organize your thoughts with ease using voice-to-text and simple input methods. Store poems, recipes, and more, with options to keep writings private or share them publicly with friends. Streamline your writing process and keep all your creative content in one place.

Highlights
  • Speech and voice recognition
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Store poems and recipes
  • Mark writings as private
  • Share public writings with friends
  • Transfer thoughts from brain to device
Features
Read full description

Spoken Words is an app for poets, writers, chefs or anyone that wants a convenient way to store a collection of writings. With our simple and intuitive UI you can seamlessly transfer thoughts from your brain to device. We even incorporate speech and voice recognition technology to help you better organize your ideas. With Spoken Words hours of writing and organizing your writings are a thing of the past. Simply press record or even paste in whatever you want to say. Finally, you can also view writings from friends! All you have to do is search for their email and all public writings will be available to you. See your friends public poems, recipes and more. Don't forget to mark personal writings as private so they're hidden from wandering eyes! privacy policy: https://www.collectivemindsincorporated.com/privacy-1/ EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Paper4 screens
Spoken Words4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Paper at 4.7 against Spoken Words's 2.7. Paper also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 3) and review sentiment (72% vs 50%). Spoken Words's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Paper sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Spoken Words sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Paper holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paper has 1.8K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Paper's written reviews are positive against 50% of Spoken Words's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Paper ships an update monthly, Spoken Words weekly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Paper versus Spoken Words: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPaperSpoken Words
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.8K ratings) — better2.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews71.6% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.8K — better3
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMihhail LapushkinRonald Jones

Customer experience

Paper

All ratings1,729 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.4%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews232 reviews
Positive71.6%
Neutral9.5%
Negative19.0%

Spoken Words

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Paper

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Files randomly disappearing
  • Cursor issues causing freezes
  • Syncing and iCloud integration problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add image support
  • Improve file management and recovery
  • Expand font and customization options
  • Implement team/collaborative writing features
  • Add text formatting options like italics and bold

Spoken Words

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Paper

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Features — Discounted$14.991 Month
  • Pro Features$29.991 Month
  • Pro Features — Discounted$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pro Features$99.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro Features — Discounted$99.99
  • Pro Features$199.99
1 purchases

Spoken Words

Subscriptions1
  • Pro membership$4.991 Month

Questions

Is Paper free?
Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spoken Words free?
Spoken Words is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Paper or Spoken Words?
Paper is rated higher. Paper averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Spoken Words averages 2.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Paper or Spoken Words have ads?
Neither Paper nor Spoken Words shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Paper or Spoken Words?
Paper ships an update monthly, and Spoken Words weekly. Most recently, Paper was updated on October 25, 2026 and Spoken Words on October 25, 2026.

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